Kael discovered sothing important the next day.
Rumors moved faster than light.
And they were way more dangerous.
"Why is everyone staring at ?"
"Because you’re famous."
"No. This is different."
Luna looked around.
Everyone was indeed staring at Kael.
Not the usual way.
It wasn’t the look of:
"That’s the guy with the cat."
Nor:
"That’s the lunatic who destroyed a mountain."
No.
It was worse.
Much worse.
It was the look people had when they believed they knew a huge secret.
And were desperate to hear more.
"Big brother."
"Yeah?"
"I think they know sothing."
"What thing?"
"Sothing that probably isn’t true."
Kael felt a sense of dread.
Then he overheard a conversation nearby.
"I saw it with my own eyes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"She gave him a bento?"
"Personally."
"Incredible..."
"They say she cooked all night."
"NO WAY!!"
"My cousin is a third-year."
"So?"
"He says she’s never cooked for anyone before."
Kael froze.
"..."
Luna slowly turned.
"Oh."
"Oh no."
"Yeah."
"Oh no."
"Yeah."
Kael spun on his heels.
"I’m going to fix this right now."
"Good luck."
"Thanks."
"You’re going to need it."
.
.
.
First attempt.
Imdiate failure.
Kael found several first-year students gathered near a fountain.
"Listen."
Everyone looked at him.
"The rumors are false."
"What rumors?"
"That I’m dating Seraphina."
Silence.
A student raised a hand.
"That sounds exactly like sothing soone dating Seraphina would say."
"What?"
"It’s true."
"Makes sense."
"A lot of sense."
"THAT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL!!"
"Look how he’s trying to hide it."
"How romantic."
Kael stood frozen.
"Why did it get worse?"
"Because you talked."
"Damn it."
.
.
.
Second attempt.
Worse.
Much worse.
During the next class.
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet.
So Kael decided to clear things up.
"Listen, everyone."
The classroom fell silent.
"Seraphina and I are not in a relationship."
Several people nodded.
"Sure."
"We understand."
"Completely."
Kael smiled.
"Perfect."
"They don’t want to go public yet."
"What?"
"Because of the status difference."
"WHAT?"
"It’s logical."
"NO!!"
"They’re hiding the engagent."
"THERE IS NO ENGAGENT!!"
Silence.
The whole class stared at him.
And then...
"HE ADMITTED THERE’S A RELATIONSHIP!!"
"THAT’S NOT WHAT I SAID!!"
"HE’S NOT DENYING IT ANYMORE!!"
"REPORTERS, MOVE IN!!"
Kael dropped his head onto the desk.
"I’m going to die."
.
.
.
Third attempt.
Absolute catastrophe.
During lunch.
Kael decided to ask for help.
Huge mistake.
"Darius."
"No."
"I didn’t even tell you what I wanted."
"No."
"Listen to ."
"No."
"I just need you to explain to everyone that the rumors are false."
Darius looked at him.
And then burst out laughing.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you know it’s not true."
"Correct."
"Then help ."
"Never."
"Why?"
"Because it’s funny."
"..."
"Besides."
Darius smiled maliciously.
"Now the whole academy believes you’re going to marry the number one student."
"..."
"And honestly, that seems like an appropriate punishnt."
"I hate you."
"I know. And my summon hates you too because of you — it needs a psychiatrist."
.
.
.
Unfortunately.
The situation got even worse.
Because Luna decided to help.
And when Luna helped...
tragedies usually happened.
"Big brother."
"No."
"But I haven’t said anything yet."
"I know you."
"Listen."
"No."
"Listen."
"Fine."
Luna smiled.
Too much.
"What if you just accept the rumors?"
"What?"
"That way, when they beco true, no one will be surprised."
Kael stared at her.
"I’m going to sell you."
"That’s illegal."
"I’m going to look for a legal loophole."
.
.
.
The worst happened after lunch.
Because Seraphina appeared.
And as if the universe personally hated Kael...
she was walking straight toward him.
Again.
Conversations died instantly.
Everyone watched.
Even teachers.
Kael felt his soul leave his body.
"No."
"ow."
"Don’t help ."
"ow."
Seraphina stopped in front of him.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Did you like it?"
"The bento?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"It was good."
"Mhm."
Silence.
Kael could feel hundreds of eyes boring into his back.
"Thanks."
"I can make another."
BOOOOOOM.
The entire academy exploded.
"ANOTHER!!"
"SHE SAID ANOTHER!!"
"CONFIRD!!"
"THEY’RE MARRIED!!"
"THAT ESCALATED WAY TOO FAST!!"
Kael wanted to disappear.
Seraphina seed to notice sothing.
She looked around.
Heard so murmurs.
Then looked at Kael.
"What’s wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You’re lying."
"Everyone thinks we’re a couple."
"Oh."
Silence.
Kael waited for a reaction.
A denial.
A clarification.
Sothing.
Anything.
Seraphina thought for a few seconds.
Then said:
"I see."
"So?"
"Mhm."
"So?"
"It doesn’t bother ."
Silence.
Absolute.
Complete.
Total.
Kael felt the universe trying to assassinate him.
"IT DOESN’T BOTHER YOU?"
"No."
"WHY NOT!?"
"Because nothing changes."
"EVERYTHING CHANGES!!"
"Mhm."
"STOP SAYING MHM!!"
.
.
.
By the end of the day.
Kael had given up.
Completely.
He no longer tried to defend himself.
No longer tried to explain.
No longer tried to stop rumors.
It was useless.
He had lost.
He was sitting under a tree inside the academy.
Away from the noise.
Away from the students.
Away from the social destruction of his reputation.
The cat slept on his lap.
For the first ti all day...
there was peace.
"Finally."
"ow."
"Yeah."
"ow."
"I’m tired too."
"ow."
"Though technically, all of this is your fault."
The cat ignored the accusation.
As always.
Then a shadow appeared in front of him.
Kael looked up.
A young man was there.
Black hair.
Golden eyes.
Relaxed smile.
And an expression that radiated exactly the sa energy as soone about to cause trouble.
A lot of trouble.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You’re Kael Veyron."
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Did you co to congratulate or to try to kill ?"
The stranger burst out laughing.
"Neither."
"What a relief."
"For now."
"Ah... what a relief."
"Yeah."
"I figured."
The young man sat on a nearby branch.
As if he were in his own ho.
"My na is Aurelion Voss."
"I’ve never heard of you."
"That’s normal."
"That didn’t sound very confident."
"Because I skip almost all my classes."
"..."
"..."
"What?"
"Is that allowed?"
"If you’re good enough."
Kael frowned.
"That sounds unfair."
"It is."
"I hate you a little."
"Most people do."
Aurelion smiled.
"The academy bores ."
"Then why are you still here?"
"Because they pay to do student missions."
"..."
"..."
"That’s allowed too?"
"Yes."
"I need to learn more about this place."
Aurelion looked at the cat.
Then at Kael.
Then back at the cat.
"So that’s the famous Little Fat King."
The cat opened one eye.
Annoyed.
"ow."
"Yeah, definitely as unpleasant as they say."
"ow."
"I think he insulted you."
"I know."
Aurelion smiled.
Then stood up.
And for the first ti since he’d arrived...
his eyes showed genuine interest.
"I want to fight you."
"Ignore , I’m weak."
Silence.
"Not against you... Summon vs and my summon."
Kael blinked.
"What?"
"A duel."
"Why?"
"Because everyone’s talking about you."
"That’s not a reason."
"For it is."
"That explains a lot."
Aurelion crossed his arms.
"Besides."
He looked at the cat.
"I want to see if the rumors are real."
The wind blew through the courtyard.
"My summon literally threw another summon through three walls, destroyed the top of a mountain, and people still think it’s a rumor..."
The cat opened both eyes.
And for the first ti...
seed to pay him attention.
Aurelion smiled even wider.
"See you soon, Kael."
And before he could respond...
he jumped from the branch.
And disappeared among the academy buildings.
Kael stayed still for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
Very deeply.
"I have a bad feeling."
"ow."
"Yeah."
"ow."
"I also think he’s going to be trouble."
And for so reason...
the cat seed to completely agree.
Exss’s Note: Hey guys, I got a contract thanks to you all who are reading this and supporting with your comnts and power stones. Thank you!
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